Improvement in thill-couplings



Sw F. A M A l. .rn S C.

Improvement in Thi-ill Coupling.

ranma Jan. 2a, 1312.

` Y i gamins: V

"wwwa PATENT OFFICE.

VCLEMENT ST. JAMES, OF PITTSFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN THILL-COUPLINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 122,974, dated January23; 1872.

Specification describing certain Improvements in 'Phill-Couplings,invented by CLEM- ENT ST. JAMES, of Pittsfield, in the county ofBerkshire and State of Massachusetts.

Figure 1 is a detail sectional view of my improved coupling takenthrough the line x x, Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is an under-side view of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

My invention has for its object to improve the construction of myimproved thill-coupling patented January 18, 1870, and numbered 99,025,so as to make it simpler and less expensive in construction, moreconvenient in use, and more effective and reliable in operation 5 and itconsists in the construction and combination of various parts of thecoupling, as hereinafter more fully described.

A are two clips that pass over the axle B, and the lower ends of whichpass through the holes in the yoke-plate G, and have nuts D screwed uponthem. Upon the forward part of the yoke-plate C is formed a projection,c', of such a size as to iit into the bent or U- shaped bar E. Fis thethill-iron, the lugs of which are at such a distance apart as to receivethe bend of the U-shaped bar E between them, and have holes formed inthem to receive the bolt or pin G, which passes through the bend of thebar E. H is an open tubular Washer, made of rawhide, and of such a sizeas not to quite meet around the pin or bolt Gr, and at the same time tot into and till the space between the said pin or bolt and the innersurface of the bend of the bar E. I is a block of rubber, leather, orother suitable ma terial, which is fitted uponlor may be attached to theopen tubular Washer H. The face of the block I rests against the face ofthe projection c1, as shown in Fig. l. The adjacent faces of the block Iand projection c1 may be both square, or one may be grooved or concavedand the other ribbed or convexed, so as to keep the said block Iparalledwith the bolt or pin G. The rear end of the upper end of the U-shapedbar E entersarecess, c2, Jformed in the upper side of the yoke-plate C,and ex tending for about three-eighths of an inch beneath the axle B, tohold the said arm to its place, and prevent the bent bar E from beingstraightened by the operation of driving out the key. J is a guardattached to the rear end of the projection cl of the yoke-plate C, thelower part of whichis bent forward to overlap and support the rear endof the lower arm of lthe U-shaped bar E, to prevent the said bar E frombeing straightened by the operation of driving in the key. K is awedge-shaped key, which is driven in through slots in the arms of the4U-shaped bar E, and in the projection c1 of the yoke-plate C, to drawthe bar E and block I firmly to their seats, and press the open tubularwasher H closely around the bolt or pin G, making all snug and tight. Asthe bolt or pin G wears, the wedge-key K may be driven further in,whichdraws the open tubular washer H more closely around the bolt or pin G,and thus takes up the wear. The Wedge-shaped key K may be secured inplace by a leather key, L, passed through a slot in its lower end, asshown in Figs. l and 2.

Having thus described my invention, Iclaim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- The combination, in a thill-coupling, of the axle B,clips A A, and U-sliapcd bar E with a one-piece yoke-plate, made up oftwo parts, c and c1, which are constructed of dii'erent heights, so asto receive the said bar Ein a recess, c, formed by said yoke-plate andthe axle, all as described, and for the purpose of venabling the bar Eto be held iirmly in the position desired.

' CLEMENT ST. JAMES.

Witnesses:

DANIEL J URDAN, ROBERT ST. J AMES.

